How fashion affects your self-confidence.
The famous French fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent once said, "I have always believed that fashion was not only to make women more beautiful, but also to reassure them, give them confidence." This quote can certainly be true.
What you wear can determine how confident you feel about yourself. If you aren't comfortable in what you are wearing, you may not feel self-assured.
It’s a Phenomenon
In fact, there is a scientific term to describe this occurrence and it is called, “enclothed cognition”. Essentially, it is defined as the influence clothing has on an individual’s cognitive process. So what does this mean for us? To put it simply, the clothing we decide to wear can have an impact on the way we think and the way we feel. Here is an example...
Think back to your last job interview. Most likely you were wearing business professional clothing. You might not have realized it at the time but adorning this suit potentially made you feel more confident and ready to take on the task at hand – landing the job. If you happened to show up at the interview in the clothes you rolled out of bed with, I am sure you would not feel as good about the position as you otherwise would have. Some people even get dressed up for phone interviews because of the mental impact!
Self-Confidence
Our self-confidence should not solely be defined by what we wear. Furthermore, our beauty should not be defined by what we wear. I'm not saying we should only wear potato sacks and never wear anything we may feel confident in.
What I'm trying to convey is that we shouldn't focus all of our attention on buying the most expensive item of clothing. The media portray this ideal, which transcends into our lives. Ralph Lauren said, "Fashion is not necessarily about labels. It's not about brands. It's about something else that comes from within you."
Look Good, Feel Good
Fashion is more than just a designer handbag. It is a movement that empowers the everyday person. Maria Grazia Chiuri, creative director of Christian Dior, took her strong feminist beliefs and weaved it into her Spring 2018 ready-to-wear collection to create looks that she specifically devised to empower women and embolden her confidence. She has certainly integrated the idea of enclothed cognition into her designs.
Next time you need to choose a new outfit, remember to decide with confidence. Do not worry what anyone else might think of you. Dress selfishly. Dress knowing what you wear has a direct impact on how you carry yourself and your self-confidence. Don’t let the small opinions of other around you dictate how you should look and what’s deemed “appropriate”. I promise that just this small psychological change can have a large impact on your life. Just watch how fashion affects your self-confidence.
-Jennifer L.
The Lily Team